BEUC The European Consumers’ Organisation

BEUC, the European Consumers’ Organisation, is the Brussels-based federation of 38 independent national consumer organisations from some thirty European countries (EU, EEA and applicant countries) since 1962. Our job is to try to influence, in the consumer interest, the development of EU policy and to promote and defend the interests of all European consumers - citizens as purchasers or users of goods and services.

Drawing on collective knowledge and experience, the BEUC team and our members together develop policy positions that form the basis of our campaigning. We contribute expertise on issues that have direct economic or legal consequences for consumers or that impact on consumers’ health, safety and environment. We strive to develop a Single Market that truly works in the interests of consumers, and to ensure that consumer interests become an absolute priority in all policy fields with a likely consumer impact.

BEUC’s work is also based on respect for human dignity, and we endeavour to pay special heed to the needs of the most vulnerable consumers, including children, the elderly and the disadvantaged. BEUC also focuses on social and environmental aspects and on responsible (or “ethical”) consumption.

Our vision of the European Union is one of shared responsibility among all stakeholders in society to maintain and strengthen basic consumer rights.

The activities of BEUC are financed mainly by contributions from our member organisations. We also receive financial support from the European Commission under the general framework programme for financing activities in favour of consumers.

BEUC and the Health and Consumer Intergroup

BEUC acted as the Secretariat for the Consumer Intergroup since 1989. It was created in order to offer MEPs from all member states and all political parties an informal discussion forum to discuss issues which affect consumers.

> list of BEUC members